The Villanova men’s golf team delivered a strong performance at The People’s Championship, finishing fourth in a highly competitive field at Georgia Southern Golf Course. After an impressive second-round surge that saw the Wildcats climb into second place, the team faced a tough final round and ultimately secured a top four result.
Saturday’s final round presented a different set of challenges, as Villanova looked to maintain its position near the top of the leaderboard. Despite their best efforts, the Wildcats struggled to keep pace with the eventual winners UNCG, recording a 292 (+9) to finish the tournament in fourth place. The Wildcats posted a three-day total of 855 (+3) in the tournament.
Villanova started the tournament with confidence, finishing the first round in fourth place after shooting five under as a team. The team capitalized on steady ball-striking and efficient putting to keep pace with the leaders.
The Wildcats entered the second day of the three-day tournament trailing closely behind UNC Greensboro, Davidson, and Richmond. Freshman Vibhav Alokam continued his impressive debut season by matching his career-low round of 69 (-2). He maintained steady play throughout the day, shooting one under on both the front and back nine while recording three birdies in the opening round.
Villanova excelled on par-five holes, shooting five under as a team. The Wildcats also ranked among the tournament leaders, recording the fifth-most pars (58) and the third-most birdies (19).
Vickers rebounded after a 36 (+1) on the front nine, finishing strong with a 32 (-4) on the back, His final score of 68 (-3) placed him among the top 40 rounds recorded in the tournament’s four-year history. With all five team members contributing solid scores, the Wildcats positioned themselves well for the remainder of the tournament.
Building on its strong start, Villanova delivered another solid effort in the second round. The team posted a 282 (-2), improving its tournament total and climbing into second place.
Junior Matt Zerfass and Alokam sat at seven under par across 36 par-four holes, both ranking in the top 10 individually after impressive second-round performances.
Villanova recorded the second-most birdies of any team with 39. The team improved its total from 19 in the first round to 20 on day two, helping the Wildcats inch closer to the tournament leaders. By the end of the day, Villanova was just a few strokes off the top spot, putting the Wildcats in the mix for a potential title run.
Villanova ranked second among all teams with 52 birdies, finishing just behind champions UNCG. Zerfass delivered a strong front nine on the final day as he fought to remain in the top 10, carding a 36 (+1). However, Zerfass bogeyed three of his last four holes on the back nine. Zerfass finished with a 75 (+4) in the final round, bringing his tournament total to 213 (E). He placed 14th overall, securing his third top-20 finish of the season and Alokam finished sixth overall posting a 209 (-4), his first top 10 finish of his career.
Though it fell short of a podium finish, Villanova’s strong showing highlighted its depth and ability to contend in high-level tournaments. The experience gained from playing under pressure will serve them well as they prepare for future events.
With The People’s Championship in the books, Villanova will turn its attention to the Golden Horseshoe Intercollegiate, hosted by the College of William & Mary. The Wildcats will travel to Williamsburg, VA on Monday and Tuesday, March 24 to March 25.
